Coming up with writing inspiration is tough when you’re feeling anything but inspired. When you’re desperate for a spark of an idea to come floating out of the creative ether, you’re more likely to find the abyss staring back. Here are twelve things to write about when you’re not on speaking terms with your muse. […]

Coming up with writing inspiration is tough when you’re feeling anything but inspired. When you’re desperate for a spark of an idea to come floating out of the creative ether, you’re more likely to find the abyss staring back. Here are twelve things to write about when you’re not on speaking terms with your muse.

We’ll take a look at some fiction writing ideas as well as inspiration for articles and blog posts.

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More

Fictional Things To Write About

If it’s a short story, flash fiction, or even a novel you’re in pursuit of, these topic ideas will get the words flowing.

1
Get inspired by a song.

Have you ever wondered about the story behind a song? Write about it. Choose a song that intrigues you, listen to it, and dig into the lyrics. Who are the characters behind those lyrics? What’s their situation? What challenges are they facing? Don’t try to recreate the song in prose; try to imagine the people and circumstances behind it.

2
Reinvent a childhood memory.

Think of a pivotal childhood moment—something that shaped your future in some way. Now, imagine that things had gone differently. Instead of losing that contest, you won. Instead of being bullied on the playground, you were the bully. Instead of moving away from your teenage girlfriend or boyfriend your sophomore year, you stayed. How is life different? What remained the same?

3
Write about a person you see every day but don’t really know.

Invent a story for someone you encounter in your daily life. Write a backstory for the barista who always draws a lopsided heart in the foam of your soy latte. Imagine life as the person who drives the crosstown bus.

4
If your pet were a person . . .

We have a natural tendency to anthropomorphize animals by imagining or assuming they have human characteristics, so take it to the extreme. Write about what your dog would be like if he were a person. How would your cat navigate a derisive business meeting if she were a CEO? Your ball python is now a used car salesman. Go!

5
Write about what you wanted to be when you grew up.

I’ve almost always wanted to be a writer, and that’s what I became. But for a brief childhood moment before I discovered the magic of words I wanted to be a veterinarian. What did you want to be when you grew up? Write about what might have happened if you’d pursued a different dream.

6
Grab a writing prompt to go.

The Internet is full of writing prompts for people who need story inspiration. Some sources are better than others, but if you’re struggling to figure out what to write about, social media is a great place to start.

Things to Write About for Blog Posts and Articles

Sometimes you’ve just got to write a blog post or flesh out a content publishing calendar. Unfortunately, that creative well can run dry, and writing prompts may not help. Here are some ways to come up with topics when you’re in a slump.

7
Use Google to find related topics.

If you know there’s a topic you want to write about but you’re not sure which angle to take, head to Google. Open an incognito window (so your search won’t be influenced by your browsing history), navigate to Google, and type a few keywords related to your topic. Google’s autocomplete feature will start showing you popular search terms, and those may spark an idea.

Here’s a tip: Use popular article title phrases like “What to” or “How to” in your search to improve the results.

8
Focus on a detail.

You may have already broadly covered a topic like “How to Write a Blog Post.” Take a look at some of your big picture posts and hone in on a specific detail. In this case, you might write about something like “How to Write a Great Title” or “How to Craft an Opening Hook.”

9
Ask your readers.

Use your mailing list and a tool like Survey Monkey to create a survey and ask your readers what they have questions about. If you have an active social media channel, that works, too.

We think your writing is beautiful.

That’s why we created the New Grammarly Editor—to match our users’ fantastic writing.

10
Take to Twitter.

Search Twitter for a relevant keyword or hashtag and look at what sorts of comments, questions, and articles people are sharing. Chances are good you’ll find inspiration.

11
Write about a time you failed.

No one is successful one hundred percent of the time. Let down your guard and tell your readers about a time you failed. They’ll find your struggle relatable, and they’ll be inspired by your story of how you overcame the failure and learned from it.

12
Write about popular topics from a different angle.

What are your highest ranking posts? Traffic is a good indicator that you’ve hit on a topic your readers want to know more about. Can you cover that topic from a new angle or offer up different information? There’s no reason you can’t cover an existing topic using a new approach.

Do you have tips for generating writing ideas? Let us know in the comments.

Long-form writing is tough. But longer pieces can be enjoyable and rewarding for many readers, giving them a glimpse of an unfamiliar world or insight into new ideas. You could be producing narrative journalism, an in-depth essay, creative nonfiction, or fiction. Maybe it’s for fun or maybe it’s part of your job. No matter the […]

Long-form writing is tough. But longer pieces can be enjoyable and rewarding for many readers, giving them a glimpse of an unfamiliar world or insight into new ideas.

You could be producing narrative journalism, an in-depth essay, creative nonfiction, or fiction. Maybe it’s for fun or maybe it’s part of your job. No matter the reason, these tips will help you find ideas and see them through—and to do it all with style and accuracy.

1
Know your audience

Some readers love long-form writing; others need convincing. To make sure your target readers make it to the end, have a specific idea of who they are and write directly to them.

Some writers recommend having a single person in mind to write for—a child, best friend, teacher, ex-boyfriend, you name it. Imagining your audience’s responses can help you write something they’ll want to read.

2
Entertain your audience

Knowing your audience is one thing, but producing content they like is another. If you work for a newspaper or online publication, dig around to see what past articles have high reads, shares, and comments, and model your new content on that.

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More

3
Get inspired

Many writers say that reading other writers is the best way to learn new stories, discover interesting or innovative writing styles, and find inspiration in general. Reading similar pieces to what you write will also give you a handle on what’s already out there and help ensure you aren’t retreading covered territory.

But there’s more to it than staying aware of the top newspapers, best-selling books, or most-clicked stories on your favorite blogs. Look outside your genre for new concepts, styles, and worlds of creativity. Something that might seem irrelevant could end up sparking your next big idea.

To get a sample of great long-form storytelling across genres, check out Longreads. It shares published fiction and nonfiction longer than 1500 words, so there’s a ton of variety.

4
Try a few ideas

You don’t have to go with the first concept that jumps in your head. It’s always a good idea to outline a few ideas and see which one resonates the most. If you find yourself more passionate about one concept over another, there’s a good chance that you’ll invest the necessary time to bring the tale to life—and you’ll enjoy doing it.

5
Stick to your story arc

“Beginning, middle, and end” may seem like kids’ stuff, but knowing the direction your story is going is important in narrative journalism, fiction, and creative nonfiction alike. If you’re writing an essay, thesis, or dissertation, the argumentative arc is similar to the narrative arc. Both are key to the structure of your writing.

No matter what you’re writing, be aware of how you’re constructing the arc. You want to start strong, keep readers surprised with twists and turns, add new details where necessary, build to a critical moment or climax, and conclude in a way that’s satisfying for the reader, but also leaves them curious to learn more or with a call to action to follow up on.

A strong narrative arc and satisfying conclusion can make the difference between an average story and a story that sticks in readers’ heads for a long time.

6
Get caught up in the details

The story arc is the skeleton of your piece; the details are the muscles, skin, hair, and nails.

If your writing is character-based—whether fictional characters or people you interview for an article you’re reporting—the details that matter are the character traits that make these folks come alive on paper. Get to know the basics, the psychological profile, and the nitty-gritty of a typical day (and an atypical day). Bad habits, tea or coffee, tics, quirks, and more.

Finding the right details to make your readers feel like they’re part of the story you’re in can also apply to a place, time, or idea. It’s all about creating an environment that will lure the reader in.

We think your writing is beautiful.

That’s why we created the New Grammarly Editor—to match our users’ fantastic writing.

7
Keep organized

The right tools can help you gather your material, structure your ideas, and finalize your story. Pocket lets you save articles, videos, and more to all your devices. Evernote provides a platform for capturing and curating resources and ideas in searchable notebooks. There’s also Google Keep, Google Docs, bookmarks on your browser, or good old-fashioned sticky notes. Whatever it takes to keep your content organized so that you can find what you need when you need it and focus on writing.

8
Write well

Whether it’s finding the right style, checking whether you need a comma, or hearing what authors before you have done for inspiration, sometimes we all need more resources to do our best writing.

Check out our list of resources to find books, websites, podcasts, and more that will help you perfect the mechanics of writing.

9
Check your P’s and Q’s

No matter how carefully you’ve crafted your story arc, a few punctuation mistakes or the wrong “affect” and you might start losing readers. So, once you’re finished with the bulk of your content—or better yet, throughout the process—watch out for pesky mistakes.

If you need help weeding out these errors, Grammarly provides you with a second set of eyes to catch the grammar, style, punctuation, spelling, and word choice mistakes. It even recommends fixes based on context. Millions of writers worldwide use it—including journalists, authors, and professional writers who specialize in long-form content.

Yes, sometimes unabashed self-promotion is an important part of the writing process, too. But if it helps you avoid mistakes that could bring your writing down, it’s worth it.

]]>https://www.grammarly.com/blog/long-form-writing/feed/0Editing Is Now Easier with the New Grammarly Editorhttps://www.grammarly.com/blog/new-grammarly-editor/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/new-grammarly-editor/#respondThu, 17 May 2018 18:11:37 +0000https://www.grammarly.com/blog/?p=34776

Are you ready to write something brilliant? If you’ve opened a new document in the Grammarly Editor recently, you may have noticed that all the features you love, plus a few new ones, are wrapped up in a fresh new look. The new UI is part of a foundational update that will enable us to introduce […]

If you’ve opened a new document in the Grammarly Editor recently, you may have noticed that all the features you love, plus a few new ones, are wrapped up in a fresh new look.

The new UI is part of a foundational update that will enable us to introduce additional types of feedback to our users, including more suggestions on how to improve the clarity and effectiveness of your writing.

Here’s how to use the new Grammarly Editor.

Getting Started

You can start working on a new document by clicking the New button. If you want to check an existing document on your computer, click Upload.

You can also upload another document for checking after you’ve started editing. Simply use these options:

Another option for importing existing text is to create a blank document, then paste in text from your clipboard. If you use this option, your document’s original formatting will be lost.

Your Personal Writing Assistant

Grammarly automatically checks everything you type, making it easy to spot and fix errors quickly. While your document is being checked, the Assistant icon moves in a circle to indicate that checking is in progress. You can keep typing, and Grammarly will continue checking.

Grammarly’s checks are indicated by red or yellow underlines.

Click on any underlined word to see our suggestions. To accept a correction, simply click on it:

If you’d like to ignore a suggestion, click the trash can icon to dismiss it.

If a suggestion is incorrect or you’d like to report it for any reason, click the flag icon and choose your preferred option to proceed.

If you’d like Grammarly to stop flagging a particular spelling as incorrect, you can add the word to your personal dictionary by clicking the book icon.

To see a detailed explanation of a suggestion, click the three dots at the bottom of the alert. You can also ignore all suggestions in a certain category. For example, if you’d like to ignore all spelling alerts in your text, click the trash can next to “Spelling” to dismiss all spelling suggestions at once:

Goals and Document Type

If you want to achieve a specific goal with your text, Grammarly’s here to help! Simply select your preferred goals in the menu indicated below:

Note: The Domain feature is available only to Grammarly Premium subscribers.

Downloading Your Documents

Once you’ve finished editing, you can copy the text to your clipboard or download the document.

If you started by uploading a document file, Grammarly will export your document in the same file format that you began with (for example, if you started by uploading a .doc file, your Grammarly document will be available to download as a .doc file).

Document Statistics

You can view your document statistics by clicking Correct with Assistant and selecting the Insights option. This section offers useful information about your text, including word count and the number of characters it contains.

If you’d like to download a PDF report of your document statistics, go to Insights and select Download PDF Report in the pop-up menu:

If you’d like to download a PDF report of your document statistics, go to Insights and select Download PDF Report in the pop-up menu that will open:

We hope you enjoy the new Editor! We want to continue making the Editor the best it possibly can be, and we want your input. Share your feedback in the comments, or tweet us @Grammarly.

In the professional world, “my dog ate it” is not a viable excuse. We all use flimsy rationale to explain why we didn’t finish a certain task, but a lot of the time, the real culprit is procrastination. It’s a common disease, but luckily, it’s curable—with the right tools. These actionable strategies and digital tools […]

In the professional world, “my dog ate it” is not a viable excuse. We all use flimsy rationale to explain why we didn’t finish a certain task, but a lot of the time, the real culprit is procrastination. It’s a common disease, but luckily, it’s curable—with the right tools.

These actionable strategies and digital tools can help to kick your procrastination habit. Some are specific to writing, but most of these tips will make a difference for professionals in any career.

Set goals

The downside of procrastination is that sinking feeling you get at the end of the day when you realize you didn’t accomplish what you wanted to. Knowing what needs to get done and when—and holding yourself accountable to those deadlines—is the first step in curing procrastination.

Set mini-tasks

Breaking your big goals down into smaller, more manageable chunks can complement your list-making and help you stay on track. After all, it’s a lot more satisfying to check off “Write Introduction,” “Research Point A,” and “Find quotes for Point B” than waiting until you can cross out “Write 20-page research paper.”

Live by lists

Lists help you track your goals, big and small. No-frills task managers like Todoist and Things will help you get the job done, but there are also apps designed to kick procrastinators’ butts. Fantastical 2 keeps you on track with a calendar interface that displays due dates for certain tasks, and Carrot gives motivations (or sass) to inspire you to finish your goals.

Edit as you go

Keep an editor with you at all times—specifically, the Grammarly editor. Grammarly catches a wide range of mistakes and highlights them, which means you can keep writing without worrying about using whose instead of who’s.

What about when you’re not at your desktop? No problem. If you want a proofreader for texts, tweets, notes, and other writing on your phone or tablet, Grammarly’s mobile keyboard has got you covered.

No matter what device you’re using, having a built-in proofreader can help you write effectively—and save time.

Eliminate distractions

There are plenty of tools out there designed to boost productivity and force you to focus. With add-ons like Leechblock (Firefox) and StayFocusd (Chrome), you can block different sites and customize days and times you can access them. Use x.minutes.at to set a timer for yourself on certain sites. If that’s not serious enough to kick your habits, download an app like ColdTurkey or SelfControl, which function on a computer level rather than a browser level.

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More

Get advice

Yes, there’s an app for that, too. Procraster gives categories of what might be slowing you down—”I don’t know where to start” or “My task is too big,” for example—and offers tips and encouragement based on what you select.

Use templates for emails

If you often find yourself getting bogged down by work emails, message templates that you can tweak and recycle can save you a lot of time. For example:

An introduction template explains what you do to new colleagues and partners

A request template asks coworkers for information, updates, or results.

And the most important template of all: one that asks for vacation days.

Having templates can save you the time of starting from scratch every time you have a similar message.

Just make sure you get the information right if you’re copying from a previous email. You can remind yourself to revisit parts of a message with bold or italic font or color-coding.

Free write for longer pieces

Set a timer (like Tomato Timer or Strict Workflow), put your pen to the paper (or fingers to the keyboard), and don’t stop writing until the alarm goes off.

A free write, also known as a word sprint or write sprint, is a great way to force yourself to put ideas on paper. It doesn’t matter whether they’re your best ideas or how articulately you put them. What matters is getting words on the page and not letting your internal editor slow you down. (Of course, if you want to accept Grammarly’s suggestions as you go, we won’t stop you.)

Make the write choices

Yes, Grammarly caught the contextual misspelling, and no, we’re not giving up on the pun.

The choices you make about how you spend your time are crucial. And we don’t just mean big choices like whether to take a certain job—it’s also the little things, like whether you choose to spend two hours looking through your college pictures on Facebook or editing the article you’re working on.

When it comes to kicking your procrastination habits, the bottom line is choosing to focus. These tips should help you pick the tools and strategies that work with your style, but it’s up to you to put your nose to the grindstone.

]]>https://www.grammarly.com/blog/stop-procrastinating/feed/0How to Ask For Help at Work When You Need it Mosthttps://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-help/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-help/#respondMon, 14 May 2018 17:46:19 +0000https://www.grammarly.com/blog/?p=34755

What if you ask someone for help and they say no? What if your query makes you look inept? What if they tire of your repeated requests for advice? Doubts like these can make asking for help uncomfortable. Let’s make asking for help a little easier. Here are a few guidelines to help you request […]

What if you ask someone for help and they say no? What if your query makes you look inept? What if they tire of your repeated requests for advice? Doubts like these can make asking for help uncomfortable.

Let’s make asking for help a little easier. Here are a few guidelines to help you request and maximize your chances of receiving help at work.

What if managers think I’m incapable of doing my job?

Resolution: Let them know you did your research.

Before asking someone to help you, try to solve the problem yourself. Consult any available handbooks, review successful examples, and search the Internet. Then when you ask, you can honestly say you looked everywhere and tried everything and you couldn’t find the information you need.

How It Looks:
“Abigail, how do you update client records with the new program? I looked at the tutorial, but I couldn’t find anything on changing an existing record.”

What if they tire of my repeated requests for help?

Resolution: Thank them for their help, and let them know how their contribution benefited your work.

Appreciation can transform duty into pleasure. Show gratitude immediately after receiving help. Thank helpers in person or send a note. Later, let them (and others) know what a prominent role their contribution played in your success.

How It Looks:

Dear Bethany,

The book you lent me is already proving invaluable. Thank you! The first chapter dealt with my exact issue. I’m so glad to have you on the team.

Best,

Carmen

[At team meeting:] “Thanks to Bethany, I was able to fix my issue and complete the project before the deadline. Here’s a copy of the final draft.”

What if they say no?

Resolution: Select an opportune time to ask for a favor.

There’s always a chance that your workmate may deny your request. You can minimize the risk by carefully planning when to ask for help. Of course, wait until he is in a good mood and doesn’t seem too busy. However, one of the best ways—and the only one in your control—is to make sure you are doing high-quality work. If he sees you always working hard, he will be more likely to respect your request.

How It Looks:

[At lunch]: Hey Dave, I liked your PowerPoint.

Thanks, Elise. I worked hard on it. Next time, I’d like to include some feedback from our biggest clients. If I sent you a three-question survey, would you be willing to mail it out to clients X, Y, and Z? I know you have a great relationship with them!

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More

What if I get a reputation as a taker?

Solution: Give as much assistance as you can.

Your reputation will be secure if you make sure you give as much as you take. Make a regular habit of offering assistance, and be ready to lend a helping hand when you see someone struggling. Not only will people be more likely to come to your aid if you’ve helped them in the past, but also you will earn a reputation as a valuable member of the team.

“You’re welcome. Hey, by the way, I just got a new client from Argentina. I thought it would be nice to greet him in his native language when he comes for his appointment today.

Would you be willing to teach me a few phrases?”

What if my request is too large or too insignificant?

Solution: Demonstrate the reasonableness of your demand.

First of all, make sure your request isn’t unreasonable. Ask yourself, “If the shoe were on the other foot, would I grant this request?” Map out how long the task will take and how you can facilitate the process. When you approach your coworker, tell her why she’s the right person to help you.

How It Looks:

“Henrietta, will you write a recommendation for me to speak at a conference?. You were one of the best presenters last year so a recommendation from you would be impressive. I made this list of my recent accomplishments, so it shouldn’t take too long.”

“I can have it to you by Monday, Ingrid.”

“Thanks, Henrietta. I’ll stop by after lunch on Monday to pick it up. And here’s my phone number just in case you have questions.”

What if my request is too large or too insignificant? If you resolve your doubts like this one, requesting help will be a breeze. All it takes is following a few guidelines to increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.

]]>https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-ask-for-help/feed/0Here’s the Real History of Mother’s Dayhttps://www.grammarly.com/blog/history-of-mothers-day/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/history-of-mothers-day/#commentsFri, 11 May 2018 17:26:59 +0000https://www.grammarly.com/blog/?p=31860

Moms didn’t come up with Mother’s Day as an easy way to get pancakes in bed. And despite how it seems, card companies didn’t invent it as a way to make a few (billion) bucks. There’s more to the history of Mother’s Day than meets the eye. In addition to the history of the holiday, […]

Moms didn’t come up with Mother’s Day as an easy way to get pancakes in bed. And despite how it seems, card companies didn’t invent it as a way to make a few (billion) bucks.

There’s more to the history of Mother’s Day than meets the eye. In addition to the history of the holiday, there’s a whole lot of controversy. There are debates about who came up with the holiday first and lawsuits about who can use the name “Mother’s Day.” One of the founders tried to get the holiday scratched from the books, even after fighting to get it recognized as a national day. Besides all that, there’s the question of where that pesky apostrophe goes.

(Don’t worry: we’ve got you covered on that one. The correct placement of the apostrophe is this: Mother’s Day.)

Here are the secrets of Mother’s Day and its history. And, for good measure, a few ideas on how to celebrate your own mom on the second Sunday of May.

The Birth of Mother’s Day

The origin of Mother’s Day as we know it took place in the early 1900s. A woman named Anna Jarvis started a campaign for an official holiday honoring mothers in 1905, the year her own mother died. The first larger-scale celebration of the holiday was in 1908, when Jarvis held a public memorial for her mother in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia.

Over the next few years, Jarvis pushed to have the holiday officially recognized, and it was celebrated increasingly in more and more states around the U.S. Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making Mother’s Day an official holiday, to take place the second Sunday of May.

Anna Jarvis put Mother’s Day on the calendar as a day dedicated to expressing love and gratitude to mothers, acknowledging the sacrifices women make for their children. That’s why she was determined to keep “Mother’s” a singular possessive, as marked by the apostrophe before “s.” Each family should celebrate its own mother, so that individual women across the country could feel the love, even in the midst of a broad celebration of motherhood.

Other Mother’s Days

Before Anna Jarvis worked to get a day just for recognizing mothers, her own mom played an important role uniting women for good causes. Mama Jarvis—also known as Ann Reeves Jarvis—cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the field during the Civil War, and in its aftermath she organized a “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” the goal of which was to foster reconciliation between former Union and Confederate soldiers by having them come together, along with mothers from both sides. With the senior Jarvis’ lifelong focus on caring for children and promoting peace, it’s no wonder her daughter fought for a day just for moms.

At around the same time Ann Reeves Jarvis was working with mothers in the spirit of peace, Julia Ward Howe, another activist—as well as abolitionist and suffragette—worked to have June 2 be celebrated as “Mother’s Peace Day,” and wrote a “Mother’s Day Proclamation” calling on mothers to work toward world peace.

These women and others were responsible for precursors to Mother’s Day in American culture, but celebrations of motherhood go back deeper than that. Such celebrations sometimes involved worship of a mother deity, such as the Goddess Isis in Ancient Egypt, or Cybele and Rhea in Ancient Greece. In other cases, celebrations were only tangentially about mothers: Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom, for example, was originally dedicated to the “Mother Church,” but was later broadened to honor human mothers, too.

Around the world, Mother’s Day is celebrated in a variety of ways and on different dates throughout the year, though many countries observe the holiday on the same day as the United States—proof of the powerful impact made by Anna Jarvis.

The Mother’s Day Controversy

Even after Anna Jarvis was successful in getting Mother’s Day made an official national holiday, she wasn’t satisfied with the way that holiday was celebrated. She had teamed up with florists while she was lobbying to get the holiday recognized, even recommending a white carnation as the symbolic flower of Mother’s Day.

However, in the first few years of the holiday’s official existence, Jarvis observed as florists, candy-makers and card-makers, and even charities used Mother’s Day as a way to make an extra buck. The commercialization of Mother’s Day, according to Jarvis, defeated the whole point of a holiday that was supposed to be about celebrating the personal, individual connection between a mother and her children.

From about 1920 onward, Jarvis fought hard to prevent businesses from profiting by means of Mother’s Day cards, candy, flowers, and other gifts. Although she had fought to be recognized as the one and only “Mother of Mother’s Day,” she later lobbied to have the holiday removed from the calendar of national holidays, and spent piles of her own money in lawsuits against profiteers she saw as using the Mother’s Day name in vain.

The Commercialization of Mother’s Day

Did Anna Jarvis have success getting people to cut down on the consumerism? If you’re considering buying your mother a card or a bouquet of flowers, you’ve got your answer.

The National Retail Federation does a yearly survey to find out how much Americans are planning on spending for Mother’s Day. Here’s a hint: most people aren’t busting out the crayons to make a homemade card.

In 2017, the expected total spending for Mother’s Day in the United States is $23.6 billion. That’s an average of $186.39 per shopper. In the fourteen years the National Retail Federation has conducted the Mother’s Day spending survey, that’s the highest amount yet.

But don’t feel bad if you’re not planning on forking up quite so much. There are plenty of ways to celebrate Mom without emptying your wallet. It’s all about making it special.

How to Celebrate Mother’s Day Today

For most modern moms, going out to brunch or getting a Hallmark card and a fat bunch of flowers will do the trick. Sure, Anna Jarvis will roll her eyes, but if Mom’s grateful, where’s the real harm?

If you want to go the Anna Jarvis route, make your own card or write a letter to show your love to your mommy dearest. Need inspiration? Use a phrase involving the word “mother” or “mom” or a nice mom-centric quotation. Here’s a good one:

There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one. – Jill Churchill

For some more free alternatives, you can pick up the phone (fun fact: Mother’s Day marks the highest phone traffic of the year in the United States), take Mom for a walk (if you live nearby), or send over something sentimental, like these pictures of animal moms with their cubs, pups, kits, or kids. Irresistible, right?

Most importantly, show your mom that she (and Grammarly) taught you well by putting the apostrophe in the right place when you write “Happy Mother’s Day.”

]]>https://www.grammarly.com/blog/history-of-mothers-day/feed/1Have a Great Boss? Capitalize on It to Boost Your Careerhttps://www.grammarly.com/blog/great-boss/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/great-boss/#respondWed, 09 May 2018 18:15:20 +0000https://www.grammarly.com/blog/?p=34729

Your relationship with your boss is key to your sense of fit in your job. It’s difficult to relish your role if you don’t feel comfortable with the person to whom you report. That relationship is a core part of how you feel about the work you perform and the professional culture in which you […]

Your relationship with your boss is key to your sense of fit in your job. It’s difficult to relish your role if you don’t feel comfortable with the person to whom you report. That relationship is a core part of how you feel about the work you perform and the professional culture in which you perform it.

Leadership matters, and those who excel at steering their teams have tangible results to show for their prowess. Forbes contributor Meghan M. Boro writes: “What drives retention? Leaders: the flesh and blood humans in charge. From managers to CEOs, the boss has a huge impact on retention. For all the bells and whistles we create to drive engagement and ensure retention, it won’t mean a thing if an organization’s badly led.”

A Gallup study of more than 7,000 Americans found that “one in two had left their job to get away from their manager to improve their overall life at some point in their career.” Clearly, having a bad boss can be detrimental; by the same token, having a great boss can be a tremendous opportunity.

Here’s how to recognize a truly standout leader, and maximize the opportunity that working for him or her presents.

The Qualities of a Great Boss

Leadership styles can vary, but when it comes to the core values that most employees seek in their leaders, those look largely the same.

Jay Messner, Managing Partner with Alta Impact, a training and consulting service focused on leadership development and organizational effectiveness, explains: “I often take leadership teams through an exercise where they describe the characteristics of the leader they would love to follow. Every group comes up with the same words: integrity, decisiveness, competency, honesty, intelligence, visionary, empowering, and caring. The consistency of these responses indicates that neurologically and emotionally, we humans desire the same fundamental qualities in our leaders.”

Messner notes that the sum of these characteristics is “the single most powerful quality in great leadership: trust.”

What a Great Boss Seeds

In any great relationship, you don’t just like the person—you like yourself when you’re with him or her. This is also true of a great boss. A true leader understands how to bring out the best in each member of the team. It’s a thrill to work on that team because there’s room to learn, grow, and make the mistakes that lead to self-discovery and reinvention.

Messner notes: “Under the leadership of a great boss, people develop more quickly. By our definition, a great boss is someone who challenges others to be great, and allows them the space to learn from their mistakes along the way.”

A true leader understands how to foster growth on his or her team, and that’s an important professional opportunity. Messner explains: “great bosses create high performers who then get to share in the boss’s reputation for getting things done. It’s a ton of fun to be on a winning team.”

Maximize the Opportunity by Inviting Challenges

Great bosses use their resources strategically. Their team’s skill pool is among those resources. A stellar leader won’t just sit on those resources — he or she will grow them. A great boss is going to help you advance your skills because that best serves the team and the institution. It’s also an excellent opportunity for you.

Messner advises that if you have a great boss, embrace the opportunity by inviting challenges. He explains: “There is nothing more valuable professionally than an environment where you are being both vigorously challenged and unconditionally supported.”

Welcome Input

When you recognize that your boss is a stellar leader, invoke his or her awareness and vision to help shape your trajectory.

Messner advises: “I always recommend individuals identify their personal vision and goals. Vision in this sense is bigger than just career planning, it’s life planning. When you have a great boss who truly wants the best for you, it is highly effective to share your vision and goals proactively with your boss to engage them in helping you succeed.”

Great bosses want you to be happy—they are rooting for your success. They are also seasoned vets in your industry, so cueing them into your vision and your plans is a sound strategy.
Messner reflects: “As a personally transformed and hopefully great boss, I love helping my people be successful in all spheres of life. It’s incredibly rewarding for me and their longevity with my organization grows immensely.”

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More

Offer Input

Great bosses aren’t ego-driven. They recognize that they are works-in progress just like their team members. Messner points out that they need your feedback to achieve growth too. He writes, “A really great, next-level boss will seek accountability and feedback from their team. If you are offered this chance, lean into it with all you have. It will be a fantastic opportunity to develop your communication and coaching skills at a level well outside your experience. The discomfort will be confirmation that you are growing fast.”

The experience you get from having a great boss can yield more than just a happy fit in your current role. You can stand to learn a lot about yourself, your abilities, and your future. So make sure to maximize your opportunities at hand, and then pay it forward when you find yourself in a leadership role.

]]>https://www.grammarly.com/blog/great-boss/feed/0Here’s How to Write an Introduction (with Examples and Tips)https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-an-introduction/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-an-introduction/#respondTue, 08 May 2018 17:24:38 +0000https://www.grammarly.com/blog/?p=34732

You have fifteen seconds to snag your reader’s attention. If your intro doesn’t draw him in, he’s likely to become one of the 55 percent of visitors who read your post for fifteen seconds or less and then navigate away. Knowing how to write an introduction that hooks your reader is essential to overcoming that […]

You have fifteen seconds to snag your reader’s attention. If your intro doesn’t draw him in, he’s likely to become one of the 55 percent of visitors who read your post for fifteen seconds or less and then navigate away. Knowing how to write an introduction that hooks your reader is essential to overcoming that daunting statistic.

The Aim of a Strong Introduction

Along with excellent organization, your introduction lets the visitor know that what you’ve written is of interest. For what reasons would someone come to read your post? Craft an intro that shows them they’ve come to the right place. Here are a few tactics and introduction examples to help you accomplish that.

1
Answer the question “Why should I read this?”

In the intro to this article, I smacked you in the face with a statistic: If you don’t capture a reader’s attention within fifteen seconds, 55 percent will surf on to something else. Right from the first sentence, I’ve told you why this article matters, which is a powerful way to compel someone to read on.

2
Engage the visitor with an anecdote.

Hook the visitor in with an intriguing narrative that gives a hint as to what the article is about and she’s more likely to continue reading.

Example:

In the summer of 2015, Stan Transkiy was 16 years into a life sentence, and he had finally found a way to occupy his time.

Here’s a tip: Even how-to articles can benefit from the storytelling technique. Consider the problems your reader might have that caused them to seek out your post, then begin with a brief relatable story to engage their attention.

3
Tell the reader “This is not for you. (But not really. It totally is.)”

When you tell someone “Whatever you do, don’t think of a purple gorilla!” the first thing they do is think of a purple gorilla. (You’re welcome! Don’t worry; he’s friendly.) The same psychological tactic can work in writing an introduction.

Example:

Why do you look so angry? This article hasn’t even begun and already you disapprove. Why can’t I ever win with you? I see it in your face.

4
Share something personal.

Much like storytelling, sharing something personal in an introduction can pique a visitor’s curiosity. Either he’ll feel he can relate, or the story will be so unique that he’ll be driven to read on to discover more.

Example:

I write to fill the page, preferably with nothing.

This ambition was in me before I could write. I grew up in a family of refugees speaking Russian, a language that, as my teachers and classmates took pains to remind me, did not belong to me.

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More

5
Ask a question.

Some may argue that this introduction-writing technique is overused, but now and then a compelling question is the hook your piece needs. It’s especially effective if the visitor has to read on to uncover the answer.

Example:

What do you get when you combine a classic psychology experiment with the search for extraterrestrial intelligence?

Best Practices for Writing an Introduction

There’s no one perfect way to write an introduction. Your technique will vary depending on factors like your topic, the tone of your publication, and your audience. Here are a few do’s and don’ts.

Do keep your introduction paragraph short. There are no hard and fast rules, but for most types of features and blog posts three or four sentences is a reasonable goal.

Don’t waste words. Write lean. Get rid of filler words and phrases. It’s good to practice clean, crisp writing in general, but it’s especially important in an opening paragraph to capture your reader’s attention.

Do consider eliminating your first sentence. Your first sentence (or even your first two or three) is often a sort of writer’s warmup. Cut it and see if it makes the intro stronger.

Don’t oversell it. Never let your intro write a check your article can’t cash. Whatever you promise in the opening paragraph, make sure you deliver in the post itself.

Do try drafting the rest of your article before working on the introduction. Often, writing a piece will reveal the best way to introduce it. If your intro doesn’t flow from the beginning, start with a placeholder and write the opening paragraph after the article is complete.

Take time craft and carefully edit your introduction. It can mean the difference between a reader navigating away to greener digital pastures or staying on the page to read what you’ve written, share, and engage.

]]>https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-an-introduction/feed/0The Best 9 Ways to Stay Motivated at Work and Inspire Those Around Youhttps://www.grammarly.com/blog/the-best-9-ways-to-stay-motivated-at-work-and-inspire-those-around-you/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/the-best-9-ways-to-stay-motivated-at-work-and-inspire-those-around-you/#respondMon, 07 May 2018 16:45:05 +0000https://www.grammarly.com/blog/?p=34723

If you have never once struggled with feeling meh about what you’re working on, congrats! You are lucky, weird, and probably fine just skimming the rest of this. For the rest of us, alas, some tasks are simply more exciting than others—but they still have to get done. That’s doubly taxing if you’re part of […]

If you have never once struggled with feeling meh about what you’re working on, congrats! You are lucky, weird, and probably fine just skimming the rest of this. For the rest of us, alas, some tasks are simply more exciting than others—but they still have to get done.

That’s doubly taxing if you’re part of a team and need to find a way to not only care about the job but also encourage your coworkers. Fortunately, we have a few tips to help you stay motivated at work and inspire those around you.

1Think about your impact.

Sometimes, feeling motivated is as simple as remembering the people your work serves. If you feel like you’re making someone’s life better—even if it’s a stranger—pushing through can feel a lot easier. Larry Page once said this about what drives people at Google: “If you’re changing the world, you’re working on important things. You’re excited to get up in the morning.”

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More

2Consider your work in context.

Even dream jobs come with their share of frustrations, as well as the occasional assignment that, while less than glamorous, can’t be ignored. In such moments, it can be helpful to remember that it took some effort to get where you are—plus, if you have other ambitions down the road, crushing your current objectives might help your path forward.

3Break overwhelming tasks up into smaller pieces.

An author trying to write a book by sitting down and thinking “okay, today is the day I mash out my entire opus” may not remain an author—or a sane person—for long. Instead, they might do well to start by saying “I’m going to write this chapter’s opening paragraph,” or “I’m going to research my setting.”

This approach works with many daunting undertakings; the sooner you replace the impossibly vast project in your mind with a list of discrete pieces you and your team can handle, the sooner you can start crossing items off and making headway.

Beyond the tried-and-true axiom that work expands to fill the time allotted for it, this one is especially helpful when you’re part of a team and need one person’s work to finish before a colleague can incorporate it into their next step. Feeling like part of a well-oiled machine can inspire your coworkers, and it helps to bypass the grating hurry-up-and-wait feeling that saps motivation.

5Step outside your comfort zone.

Sometimes a lack of motivation stems from feeling underutilized. Finding ways to try new things could be the trick to breaking out of your funk—and the same goes for colleagues who might appreciate a new challenge.

“I think that’s how you grow,” says Marissa Mayer of Yahoo fame: “When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough. Sometimes that’s a sign that something really good is about to happen. You’re about to grow and learn a lot about yourself.”

6Be open to criticism.

Whatever you’re working on, you want to deliver it on time and without much hassle—but more than that, when you feel driven or want to help drive others, you’re interested in how the process could run better next time.

Sometimes that perspective can come from a boss or a mentor; other times you might get it from a peer who hails from a different background and who would try a radically different approach.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai recommends taking this as a learning opportunity: “At some point in your life, you have to work with people where you feel a bit insecure. That’s essential, because that means you’re working with people who are better than you and who are pushing you. If you actually feel very secure in what you do, that means you’re doing something comfortable and you’re not pushing yourself.”

7Exude good vibes.

Sometimes you have to fake it until you make it, particularly when you’re trying to up your team’s enthusiasm. By adopting a let’s-make-this-happen attitude and not just brusquely urging folks to work faster, you can energize the people around you—and perhaps find yourself energized in kind.

8Reward yourself—and your colleagues.

Give yourself something to look forward to. Depending on what you’re trying to get motivated to do, the rewards can range from smaller treats, like a trip to the breakroom for a fresh cup of coffee as soon as you finish grinding through emails, to larger indulgences, like finally buying yourself that fancy pair of shoes you’ve been coveting just as soon as you ship your current project.

This also applies to others. When your coworker turns around outstanding revisions in record time, buy them lunch or send flowers. In fact, when you’re trying to inspire the people around you, we have one bonus item:

9Say thank you.

Those two words have tremendous power to do good. Whether someone helped rid your presentation of an awkward malaprop or kindly offered a needed referral, it’s worth showing your gratitude. Just hearing someone say “Hey, you’re doing a good job” can go a long way to hearten people.

]]>https://www.grammarly.com/blog/the-best-9-ways-to-stay-motivated-at-work-and-inspire-those-around-you/feed/0Want to Write a Story? Here’s How to Get Started.https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-story/
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/how-to-write-a-story/#respondSun, 06 May 2018 18:31:39 +0000https://www.grammarly.com/blog/?p=34679

Knowing how to write a good story is a powerful skill. The human mind is drawn to stories. Recite a laundry list of events from your day at work and our eyes glaze over. But tell us how the copier jammed and you heroically saved the day with some duct tape and a paper clip? […]

Knowing how to write a good story is a powerful skill. The human mind is drawn to stories. Recite a laundry list of events from your day at work and our eyes glaze over. But tell us how the copier jammed and you heroically saved the day with some duct tape and a paper clip? We’re riveted.

Where to Find Story Writing Ideas

Every novelist or short story writer has heard the question many times: “Where do you get your ideas?” The answer is always the same: from everywhere. Many aspiring writers believe they need to wait for a sudden flash of inspiration, but generating ideas is more of a process than an epiphany.

Pay attention.

Pay attention to what’s going on around you. Those snippets of conversation you overheard at dinner, the car you witnessed going the wrong way down the freeway during rush hour, the elderly man trudging down a dark alley calling the name Maryanne repeatedly, all could spark a story. Although some of the events you describe may be extraordinary, they don’t have to be. They just have to be interesting.

Here’s a tip: Grammarly runs on powerful algorithms developed by the world’s leading linguists, and it can save you from misspellings, hundreds of types of grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and words that are spelled right but used in the wrong context. Learn More

Jot things down.

Make a habit of noticing what’s going on around you, from the exciting to the mundane, by writing things down as they catch your attention. Use your phone’s note-taking app to capture moments. If you’re old school, keep a small notebook or some index cards. The act of writing things down will remind you to focus and be in the moment. The best writers are keen observers.

Ask “What if?”

Events aren’t stories. But events can germinate stories when the writer plants the seeds by asking questions. One of the primary questions to get a story started is “what if?” What if the car you witnessed heading the wrong way down the freeway at rush hour was driven by a pregnant woman in labor who needed the fastest route to the hospital? What if the man calling out in the dark alley was a widower whose deceased wife was named Maryanne?

Creating a Story Framework

Stories are not just sequences of events—they have to go somewhere. Any good story begins with a character who wants something. The story describes the character’s journey toward getting what he or she wants . . . or not. (Stories don’t have to have happy endings, only satisfying ones.)

Keep your character’s struggle to get something he desperately wants in mind as you build your story framework by answering these questions.

Who is my main character? What is he like in his ordinary life?

What does he want? Is there an extraordinary event that calls him to action?

What is he willing to do to get what he wants?

How do the character’s flaws prevent him from achieving his goal?

What obstacles, internal or external, thwart him?

Does he finally overcome the obstacles or is he unable to succeed?

How is the character changed as a result of the struggle?

The Fundamentals of Plot

You may have learned the basics of story structure in beginning composition class, but here’s a refresher. The story must have a beginning, middle, and end. The character follows a path called the story arc. It begins with an event that sets the wheels in motion. That’s followed by rising action, which means that every step in the story’s progression raises the stakes just a bit, increasing the conflict and tension. Then, the story reaches a climactic turning point. For better or worse, from here forward your character will be changed as a result of his journey through the events. The final piece is the end, or denouement, which wraps the story up in a satisfying way and solidifies both its outcome and its theme.

Here’s a tip: The term denouement refers to the story resolution that happens after the climactic event. It comes from the mid-18th-century French word dénouer, which translates to “unknot.”

Pixar storyboard artist Emma Coats compiled some excellent advice about storytelling in a series of tweets. She advises that you should dig into the process of plotting the character’s story with this simple template:

Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.

You can keep repeating “Because of that, ____” for as long as necessary to get to “Until finally ____.” But keep in mind that a plot should have rising action. If it helps, think “Because of that, ____, which made things more complicated.”

How to Write a Story: Four Valuable Tips

Now that you understand the framework for writing a story, these tips will help you make it great.

1. Where is your story taking place?

The details may be just for atmosphere (a bookstore where two people meet and begin a whirlwind romance), or they can play a major role (a mountaintop from which a volcanologist is trying to escape because the volcano he’s been studying has suddenly roared to life).

2. Your character can’t be perfect.

Perfect people don’t exist, and if they did, they’d be interminably dull. Give your character flaws that will both help us relate to her as a human being and increase the story’s tension as the conflict builds.

3. Your character has to feel some discomfort.

His struggles are what make him relatable. Whatever he’s competent at, throw the opposite at him. If he’s a cocky rock guitarist with a skyrocketing career trajectory, make his arrogance the cause of an accident that injures his hand, causing permanent damage. How will he react? How will he change? The answer is your story.

4. Whatever you’re working on, finish it.

Get a first draft on paper. Only when you’ve written from beginning to end can you begin the work of rewriting and editing. When you’ve tweaked the story for plot and substance, you can use Grammarly to help you fine-tune.